Obama vows to boost Puerto Rico's economy

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday laid out his plan to strengthen Puerto Rico's ailing economy and reduce a high rate of unemployment in the U.S. Caribbean territory.

Taking time away from preparing for Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary, Obama's campaign vowed to create a task force to boost economic development and create jobs on the Caribbean island, which has a per capita income about half that of the poorest U.S. states.

Obama's plan would provide incentives to encourage U.S. businesses to generate jobs in Puerto Rico, which has 63 delegate votes and will hold one of the last primaries - on June 1 - followed only by Montana and South Dakota.

He also wants to encourage investment in rural Puerto Rico and explore programs to develop renewable energy to help charge the local economy, which has entered its third consecutive year of recession.

The campaign statement claims Obama, born and raised in Hawaii, understands the unique concerns of an island economy.

The tight race for the Democratic nomination between Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a senator from New York, has brought new importance to a U.S. island territory that traditionally has little say over U.S. national affairs.

There has been little indication of whether Obama or Clinton will fare better in Puerto Rico, where local politics largely revolve around the island's relationship to the U.S. mainland. But with the national spotlight on Puerto Rico, the local Democratic Party changed the contest from a caucus to a primary to encourage more people to participate.

Some analysts say Clinton's New York ties could energize her support here and reduce Obama's lead in the overall popular vote - possibly improving her case at the Democratic National Convention in August. Puerto Ricans cannot vote in the general presidential election.

Earlier this month, former President Bill Clinton spent two days in Puerto Rico urging islanders to give his wife a good winning margin in the June 1 primary.

He promised that Sen. Clinton would help Puerto Rico overcome its limping economy and unemployment that is roughly double the U.S. rate of 5.1 percent.